Chicks Picks – Week One – 2012

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, August 30, 2012 | 5:15 PM

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Welcome to Week 1 of the high school football season. The offseason passed by rather quickly for Chick’s Picks.  Shortly after last season’s championship games, she began training to run her first 5K.  This, after rehabbing from ankle surgery, Chick’s Picks thought would be a lofty goal to set for herself.

That chilly March morning arrived, and accomplish that goal she did.  It certainly was not pretty, but nonetheless, Chick’s Picks crossed the finish line.  Now nearing her fifth 5K this weekend, she approaches each race with the same mentality—crossing the finish line is the most important part.

Chick’s Picks has decided to adopt that same mindset when it comes to prognosticating this season.  Her picks may not always be pretty, but crossing the finish line at the end of the season as the best prognosticator in the business is all that matters. 

Agree with her picks?  Disagree?  Chick’s Picks wants to hear from you!  Be sure to follow her on Twitter @ChicksPicksMSA.  Don’t forget to tweet your scores to us @MSASports or use #MSAScores!

Last season, Chick’s Picks finished with a 549-130 (81%) record.  Here are this week’s big games:

CLASS AAAA
#4 Woodland Hills (6-4) at #3 Upper St. Clair (11-2)

The Panthers will play host in a monster Southeastern conference season opener Friday night when the Wolverines come to town.   Although both teams have been hit hard by graduation, big things are expected this season.  Upper St. Clair will replace QB Dakota Conwell with Pete Coughlin, who gained valuable experience in last year’s postseason when Conwell was injured.  This matchup also features two of the most successful coaches in the WPIAL.  USC’s Jim Render tops the list with 354 wins in his 44 years of coaching.  George Novak of Woodland Hills comes in third with 258 wins in 35 seasons.  These two last met in the 2005 WPIAL quarterfinals, with the Wolverines advancing after a 28-15 win.  Chick’s Picks likes the home team this time around.
Upper St. Clair over Woodland Hills.

CLASS AAA
#8 Blackhawk (5-4) at #5 West Allegheny (5-5)

The Cougars and the Indians open conference play in Imperial Friday night.  Blackhawk is looking to rebound this season after falling short of last year’s playoffs with a (3-4) record in the daunting Parkway Conference—ranked as one of the Top 15 conferences in the nation by ESPN.  West Allegheny edged its way into the postseason last year, but fell to Knoch in the first round, 28-7.  All eyes will be on Cougars QB Chandler Kincade this season.  The 6’5”junior was offered a scholarship by Pitt last season as just a sophomore.  The Indians will once again rely heavily on the running game, particularly junior RB Tory Delmonico.  West Allegheny edged Blackhawk last season, 19-7.  Chick’s Picks predicts a repeat performance by the Indians this season.
West Allegheny over Blackhawk.

CLASS AA
#5 Washington (8-3) at Greensburg Central Catholic (10-2)

Washington will make its Interstate Conference debut at Greensburg Central Catholic Friday night as the Centurions take the field for the first time in 17 years without Coach Muzzy Colosimo at the helm.  The Little Prexies will present no easy task for the Centurions, with RB Shai McKenzi, who rushed for 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns this season, and RB Josh Wise, a 3-year starter.  GCC will need Zach Guiser, and Akron recruit, to step up in the backfield after last year’s leading rusher, Jordan McCrae, transferred to Connellsville.  Washington returns seven starters from last season’s squad that finished second in the Century Conference.  GCC was the Interstate Conference runner-up, and brings back six starters from that team.  The Little Prexies and Centurions both fell to Aliquippa in last year’s playoffs.  Chick’s Picks thinks the Little Prexies will make their presence known in their new conference Friday night.
Washington over Greensburg Central Catholic.

CLASS A
#3 Rochester (10-2) at #7 Avonworth (9-2)

The Antelopes jump right into stiff competition as they host the perennial power Rams Friday night.  Rochester presents no easy task to Avonworth, which lost 19 players to graduation.  The Rams are at the opposite end of the spectrum, returning 14 starters from last year’s (10-2) squad, including QB Ben Richko and RB Preston Johnson.  The Antelopes will have revenge on the brain, since the Rams were responsible for ending their season, 26-22, in last year’s quarterfinals.  Rochester advanced to the semifinals before falling to eventual champ Clairton, 43-7.  Chick’s Picks thinks the Antelopes will still dominate their Eastern Conference competition, who were also plagued by graduation, but not so much against the Rams.
Rochester over Avonworth.

CLASS AAAA:

Foothills Conference:

Connellsville over Kiski Area

McKeesport over Hempfield

Gateway over Latrobe

Altoona over Norwin

Northern Eight Conference

Seneca Valley over Butler

Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Shaler

Pine-Richland over Fox Chapel

Southeastern Conference

Baldwin over Peters Township

Bethel Park over Plum

Penn Hills over Canon-McMillan

CLASS AAA:

Big Nine Conference

Belle Vernon over Uniontown

Trinity over Elizabeth Forward

West Mifflin over Laurel Highlands

Thomas Jefferson over Ringgold

Greater Allegheny Conference

Knoch over Greensburg Salem

Hampton over Indiana

Highlands over Hollidaysburg

Franklin Regional over Mars

Parkway Conference

Central Valley over New Castle

Montour over Hopewell

Chartiers Valley over Moon

CLASS AA:

Allegheny Conference

Valley over Deer Lakes

Shady Side Academy over Ford City

Freeport over Kittanning

East Allegheny over Summit Academy

Century Conference

Steel Valley over Keystone Oaks

South Fayette over McGuffey

South Park over Quaker Valley

Seton-LaSalle over South Allegheny

Interstate Conference

Mount Pleasant over Waynesburg

Jeannette over Southmoreland

Yough over Charleroi

Midwestern Conference

New Brighton over Ellwood City

Freedom over Mohawk

Beaver Falls over Riverside

CLASS A:

Big Seven Conference

Laurel over South Side

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart over Union

Western Beaver over Neshannock

Sto-Rox over Shenango

Black Hills Conference

Brentwood over Serra Catholic

Monessen over California

Fort Cherry over Carlynton

Clairton over Chartiers-Houston

Bishop Canevin over Imani Christian

Eastern Conference

North Catholic over Apollo-Ridge

Riverview over Northgate

Springdale over West Shamokin

Wilkinsburg over Leechburg

Tri-County South Conference

West Greene over Bentworth

Beth-Center over Mapletown

Jefferson-Morgan over Carmichaels

CLASS AAAA NON-CONFERENCE:

North Allegheny over Mount Lebanon

North Hills over Penn-Trafford

CLASS AAA NON-CONFERENCE

Derry over Albert Gallatin

CLASS AAA/AA NON-CONFERENCE

Aliquippa over Ambridge

CLASS AA NON-CONFERENCE

Beaver over Burgettstown

Brownsville over Burrell

CLASS A NON-CONFERENCE

Vincentian Academy over Avella

CITY LEAGUE NON-CONFERENCE

Morgantown (WV) over Allderdice

Grove City over Carrick

Erie Cathedral Prep over Perry

Brashear over Slippery Rock

Buckeye Local (OH) over Westinghouse

Tags: Avonworth, Blackhawk, Greensburg C.C., Upper St. Clair, Washington, West Allegheny, Woodland Hills